קַ֧ח אֶת־הָאֵזֹ֛ור אֲשֶׁ֥ר קָנִ֖יתָ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־מָתְנֶ֑יךָ וְקוּם֙ לֵ֣ךְ פְּרָ֔תָה וְטָמְנֵ֥הוּ שָׁ֖ם בִּנְקִ֥יק הַסָּֽלַע׃
(Jeremiah 13:4)
This verse contains a string of Hebrew commands—strong, clear instructions that show us how verbs and phrases work in Biblical Hebrew. You’ll see verbs in command form, relative clauses, and how prepositions link ideas. Let’s unpack this step by step!
English Translation (Simple and Direct)
“Take the belt that you bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to Perat and hide it there in the crevice of the rock.”
Notice the series of action words: take, arise, go, hide. They are all command forms—very helpful for beginners to learn how Hebrew gives instructions.
Understanding the Word Order
This verse follows a series of direct commands. In Hebrew, imperative (command) verbs often come first in the sentence. That’s what we see here: קַח (take), קוּם (arise), לֵךְ (go), טָמְנֵהוּ (hide it).
Hebrew usually places the verb first, followed by the object or additional details. This makes the actions stand out clearly.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
| Hebrew Word | Meaning | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| קַח | Take | A command verb (imperative) in masculine singular. From the root לָקַח, meaning “to take.” |
| אֶת־הָאֵזֹור | the belt | אֶת marks the direct object. הָאֵזֹור = “the belt” (with definite article הַ). A noun referring to a waistband or girdle. |
| אֲשֶׁר קָנִיתָ | which you bought | אֲשֶׁר is a relative pronoun (“which”). קָנִיתָ is a past tense verb meaning “you (masc. sing.) bought.” |
| אֲשֶׁר עַל־מָתְנֶיךָ | which is on your waist | Another relative clause. עַל = “on.” מָתְנֶיךָ = “your waist” (dual form of “loins” + 2nd person masc. sing. suffix). |
| וְקוּם | and arise | קוּם is another imperative verb, meaning “get up” or “stand.” The וְ is “and.” |
| לֵךְ | go | Another imperative verb, from הלך (“to walk/go”). Masculine singular command. |
| פְּרָתָה | to Perat (Euphrates) | A proper noun referring to the Euphrates River. The -ָה ending shows direction (“toward”). |
| וְטָמְנֵהוּ | and hide it | טָמְנֵהוּ is a command verb with suffix. Root: טָמַן = “to hide.” -ֵהוּ = “it” (masc. sing. object). So, “hide it.” |
| שָׁם | there | Adverb indicating place. |
| בִּנְקִיק הַסָּלַע | in the crevice of the rock | בְּ = “in.” נְקִיק = “crevice.” הַסָּלַע = “the rock.” Together they form a construct phrase “crevice of the rock.” |
Command Forms in Action
This verse is packed with command forms. Here’s a quick visual of how they work:
| Verb | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| קַח | Imperative (masc. sing.) | Take |
| קוּם | Imperative (masc. sing.) | Arise |
| לֵךְ | Imperative (masc. sing.) | Go |
| טָמְנֵהוּ | Imperative + object suffix | Hide it |
Hebrew in Motion
With just one verse, you’ve seen:
- How Biblical Hebrew gives commands
- How relative clauses (like “which you bought”) work
- How objects and places are connected with prepositions
This verse is like a small drama, full of movement. It’s a great example of how Hebrew verbs carry the sentence forward. Keep going—you’re building real skills in the sacred language!
